Chi Qing spoke lightly, yet there was an undeniable tension in his grip on the fan, causing the joints of his fingers to turn white.

“After the prince’s serious injury, the conditions in the army were harsh, and while fleeing from the Han Ming army, he faced death multiple times. His wounds would heal only to reopen again, sometimes without even the medicine to stop the bleeding. Now that the wounds have mostly healed, they still ache terribly during the harsh winters.”

Chi Qing turned to look at Jiang Yanyi, his expression carrying an indescribable meaning. “In past winters when the prince was in the south, the wounds didn’t pain him like this. Now, in the northern border… If this secret gets out, the Turks may take advantage of the harsh winter, and it’s uncertain if Xizhou can hold its ground. But the prince is stubborn and won’t listen to the doctor’s advice to take proper care. I hope Miss Jiang can persuade him.”

After hearing this, Jiang Yanyi suddenly recalled a part of the original story.

The heroine, Jiang Yanxi, sought Lu Linyuan in Xizhou but was captured by the Turkic prince.

In a fit of rage over his beloved, the emperor declared war on the Turks, leading to Xizhou’s fall while the Prince of Liaonan sat idly by.

When she read that, Jiang Yanyi thought the Prince of Liaonan wanted to see the emperor and the Turks exhaust each other.

But now she wondered if the real reason was that Feng Shuo’s old injuries had flared up, preventing him from going to battle.

Jiang Yanyi held a pile of medicinal packages, her delicate brows knitting together. “But… how can I persuade him?”

Chi Qing replied, “Since you’ve seen the prince’s wounds, it seems you are the only one who can talk to him.”

He addressed her as “Miss Jiang,” which made Jiang Yanyi feel slightly uncomfortable.

However, since she had regained her good standing, his manner of addressing her didn’t seem inappropriate.

While she was still pondering his words, Chi Qing bowed to her, saying, “I leave this matter in your hands.”

It was only after Chi Qing left that Jiang Yanyi realized something was off about what he had said.

He mentioned she had seen Feng Shuo’s scar, but that scar was primarily on his back, and the way Chi Qing phrased it suggested a misunderstanding about how much she had actually seen.

As an unmarried woman, how could she have seen a stranger’s back for no reason?

Chi Qing must have misunderstood her relationship with Feng Shuo!

Jiang Yanyi felt embarrassed, wishing for a piece of tofu to smash her head against.

It was too late to catch up and explain, as shortly after Chi Qing departed, a little servant approached and respectfully guided her. “Miss Jiang, please follow me.”

Jiang Yanyi looked at the ginseng box and medicinal packages in her hands and had no choice but to follow.

---

Upon arriving at a courtyard, she could see several armored guards standing at the entrance.

The little servant explained their purpose, and after the guards looked at Jiang Yanyi, they went inside to announce her presence.

When they returned, their demeanor was much more respectful.

Holding a pile of items, Jiang Yanyi entered the courtyard and immediately spotted Feng Shuo playing chess.

The weather had grown increasingly cold, and he wore a dark cloak.

Perhaps due to his illness, his hair was not tied up; instead, a royal blue band held his dark hair loosely in place, and some strands fell onto his forehead, giving him a youthful appearance.

His long black hair cascaded over the collar of his white fox fur cloak.

The golden cloud patterns embroidered on the cloak shimmered in the sunlight.

He propped his head on one hand, elbow resting on the stone table, while his other hand held a black jade chess piece, seemingly contemplating his next move.

Beside the stone table was a small stove, and the teapot was bubbling, making a gurgling sound, with white steam rising, causing Feng Shuo’s refined features to appear somewhat blurred.

“What brings you here?” he asked.

Jiang Yanyi couldn’t discern the tone of his voice, so she simply replied, “I brought a ginseng root for the prince to help with his health.”

Feng Shuo turned his head and noticed the medicine packets in her arms, letting out a scoff. “Chi Qing must have been spouting nonsense again. That brat must be tired of living; I’ll chop him down myself later!”

Hearing his tone, Jiang Yanyi realized that Chi Qing’s words were probably mostly true. She responded, “Your Highness is a pillar of the nation; how can you avoid treatment just because you don’t want to acknowledge an illness?”

Feng Shuo was interrupted by her words and made a wrong move in the chess game, causing the entire board to fall into disarray.

He tossed the chess pieces back into the basket and looked at her leisurely. “How does my health concern you?”

He was a prince, and he had his pride.

He could not bring himself to offer his whole heart to her, just to seek her gaze.

He considered himself no less than Lu Linyuan.

If she refused to see him, why should he keep forcing it?

Jiang Yanyi had originally wanted to talk to him properly, but seeing his bad mood, she gave up on the idea for now.

She bowed and said, “I disturbed Your Highness, that was my mistake. I’ll take my leave.”

Just as she was about to reach the gate, Feng Shuo finally spoke, his face darkened. “Come back.”

So, he still decided to insist.

Jiang Yanyi turned around and blinked innocently at Feng Shuo’s furious yet handsome face.

He pointed at the small stove used for boiling tea and said, “Brew the medicine.”

Jiang Yanyi replied, “I am not one of the servants in your manor.”

Feng Shuo gave her a long look. “If you were one of my servants, things would be much easier.”

Jiang Yanyi was secretly annoyed that she understood what he meant by that.

She was about to leave, but an inexplicable sense of pity made her stay. “Your Highness, can we talk properly?”

Feng Shuo knew he couldn’t tease her too much, so he lowered his gaze slightly and asked, “Talk about what?”

She wanted to ask him why he liked her.

But when she met his eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

In the end, she gave up and picked up the medicine packets, walking over to the stove. “I’ll brew the medicine for you.”

Feng Shuo watched her with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

When the medicine was ready, Feng Shuo wrinkled his nose at the smell.

He had drunk medicine before and knew that although it smelled bad, it usually didn’t taste too strong when you actually drank it.

He took the bowl Jiang Yanyi handed him and downed it in one gulp, only to have his expression change dramatically.

He spat it all out immediately. “What is this?!”

Just from the smell, Jiang Yanyi knew the medicine must be incredibly bitter, but isn’t that what traditional medicine always tasted like?

Why was Feng Shuo reacting so strongly?

She was puzzled. “It’s your medicine, of course.”

Could it be that he had never actually drunk any before?

For the first time, Feng Shuo regretted regaining his sense of taste.

It was not a good thing.

He put the bowl down. “I’ll drink it later.”

He figured he could drink it after she left, when his sense of taste wasn’t as sharp.

Jiang Yanyi, however, thought he was planning to throw the medicine out after she left.

After thinking about it, she assumed the only reason must be that he didn’t like bitter medicine.

That would explain why Chi Qing had said Feng Shuo always refused to cooperate with the doctors during treatment.

She suggested, “Should I ask someone to bring you a plate of candied fruit?”

Feng Shuo’s face darkened further. “No need.”

In the end, he picked up the medicine bowl and walked toward the wall, figuring he could drink it there, further away from her.

Jiang Yanyi, afraid he would throw it away, prepared to follow him.

Feng Shuo, seeing her as if she were some terrifying beast, commanded, “Stay where you are, don’t come any closer.”